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No. 537,407. Patented Apr. 9, 1895.

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0. M; OHESNEY. LOOKING MECHANISM FOR MAIL POUGHES 0R BAGS. No. 537,407.

Patented Apr. 9, 1895.

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PATENT FFlCEt OLIVER M. OI'IESNEY, OF TOPEKA, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR OFONE-HALF TO ASBURY F. CHESNEY, OF SAME PLACE.

LOCKING MECHANISM FOR MAIL POUCHES OR BAGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 537,407, dated April 9,1895. Application filed September 1 1894:. Serial No. 521.938. (N0model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OLIVER M. OHESNEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at T0- peka, in the county of Shawnee and State of Kansas, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Locking Mechanism forMail Pouches or Bags; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enableothers skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention relates to locking mechanism for mail pouches or bags, andis intended as an improvement upon the invention set forth in anapplication for Letters Patent filed by me May 18, 1894:, Serial No.511,664.

In the invention disclosed in said application there is employed aseries of auxiliary locks located near the upper edge of the pouch orbag, with which engages a series of pins or studs on the flap of the bagor pouch when the flap is closed, a chain or chains being connected withsaid locks and with a master look, by which said auxiliarylocks arelocked and unlocked.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improvedconstruction which shall possess superior advantages with respect toefficiency in operation.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination ofparts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1, is

a perspective view of the upper part of a mail bag or pouch with myimprovements applied thereto, the flap being opened. Fig. 2, is a viewlooking from-the inner side of the bag or pouch, showing the master andauxiliary locks, the cap or cover of one of said auxiliary locks beingremoved. Fig. 3, is a horizontal sectional view of one ofthe auxiliarylocks. Fig. 4, is a vertical central section through the master lock anda portion of the bag, showing the lock in its locked position. Fig. 5,is a horizontal central section through i the main and master lock and aportion of the bag, also showing the lock in its locked position. Fig.6, is a perspective View of the rotatable spindle or barrel of the mainlock. Fig. 7, is a similar view of the casing of the main lock showingthe central boss. Fig. 8,

is a perspective view of one of the auxiliary locks the rear plate ofsame being removed. Fig. 9, is a perspective view of a portion of thekey on an enlarged scale; Fig. 10, a perspective View of the rear casingor cap of the auxiliary lock.

In'the said drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates a mail bag orpouch, having a closing flap 2 which folds over the mouth thereof andoverlaps the edge of the pouch, and is provided with a rectangular plate3, having a circular opening therein, formed with two diametricallyopposite notches 4.. This plate fits over the barrel of the master lockhereinafter described.

Secured to the inner side of the flap at suitable points areanumber ofrectangular plates 5, provided with staples 6,which are adapted toengage with the auxiliary locks hereinafter described.

Secured to the inside of the pouch near the upper edge thereof is amaster lock,comprising a plate 7, riveted to the pouch,a rotatablebarrel 8, and a casing or cap 9, secured to the plate 7. This cap orcasing is formed with an inwardly extending boss or hub 10, having acentral bore or recess and two diametrically opposite horizontal slots12, intersecting said bore or recess. The barrel 8 consists of a shortcylindrical metal block having its inner end formed with an annularrecess in which the boss or hub 10, seats, said boss forming a bearingupon which the barrel rotates. At its inner end the barrel is formedwith two diametrically opposite longitudinal slots 13, which when thebarrel is locked coincide or register with the slots in the boss or hub.Secured to the interior of said barrel are two springs 14, the free endsof which are formed with heads 15. Near their fixed ends these springsare formed with bends 16. The outer end of the barrel is formed with acentral aperture 17, and two grooves 18, for the insertion of a key 19,providedwith bits 20,

which when the key is inserted in the barrel and turned a one quarterrevolution is then pushed inwardly so as to engage with the bends oroffsets 16, and disengage the springs from the slots in the barrel, ashereinafter described. The bits 20 are formed with grooves 21, whichengage with ribs 23, in the boss or hub, the object of which is topreventthe insertion of anything but the key made for the lock beinginserted therein. A coiled spring 24 is secured to the barrel forreturning the barrel to normal position when unlocked. This spring isalso secured to an annular flange 25, on the outer side of plate 7. Thebarrel is provided with a washer or circular plate 25 held therein bytwo lugs 25 which washer or plate abuts against the outer face of saidflange 25.

The numeral 26 designates the auxiliary locks, three of which are shownin the present instance, two on one side and one on the other of themaster lock, although the number may be increased or diminished ifdesired. Each of these locks consists of a rectangular plate riveted orotherwise secured to the inside of the pouch or bag near the upper edgethereof and formed with a central rectangular opening 27 which registerswith a similar opening 28 in the bag or pouch. At one side of theopening in said plate is a rib 29. This plate is provided with a cap orcover 30, thus forming a housing within which is located a slide 31having an opening 32, therein, and a pin 34, which pin is adapted toengage with and lock the staple 6, when the flap is closed and thestaple inserted through the opening 27. At its opposite end the slide isprovided with a pin 35, provided with a coiled spring 36, which abutsagainst the end of the slide and against the rib 29. Chains, or otherflexible connections 37 are secured to the said slides and also to thebarrel of the master lock.

The operation is as follows: When the flap is opened and the locks areunlocked, the chains 37 are Wound upon the barrel of the master lock andthe spring connected with the barrel uncoiled. In this position theslots in the hub or boss are at right angles with those of the barrel.To look the bag or pouch the flap is closed, the staples entering theopenings in the pouch and the plates of the auxiliary locks. By nowgiving the barrel of the master look a quarter turn, the chains will beunwound, allowing the pins 34: of the auxiliary looks, through themedium of the coiled springs 36, to be forced through the staples 6. Atthe same time the spring of the barrel will be wound up and the slots inthe barrel will register with the slots in the hub or boss, the springs14 engaging with the slots in the hub and preventing the barrel fromrotating. To unlock the bag or pouch, the key 38 is inserted in theopening in the barrel and given a quarter turn, when the bits will reister with the slots in the hub or boss. By now pushing the key straightin its bits will engage with the springs 14, pressing them outward sothat the spring 24, will rotate the barrel, winding the chains 37thereon which will actuate the slides and throw the pins 34.- out ofengagement with the staples and release the flap.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A master lockfor mail bags or pouches comprising in combination the hub or bossformed with a central bore and diametrically opposite slots, therotatable barrel formed with diametrically opposite slots, the springshaving bends or offsets, secured to said barrel and adapted to engagewith the slots in the hub: substantially as described.

2. A master lock for mail bags or pouches comprising in combination, thehub or boss formed with a central bore, intersecting slots and a rib orribs, the rotatable barrel having a central bore and slots, and springsformed with bends or offsets, adapted to engage with the slots in saidhub, substantially as described.

3. The combination in a mail bagor pouch, of the flap, the staplesconnected therewith, the auxiliary locks comprising the plates havingopenings therein,the rib, the slide having an opening, a pin adapted toengage with said staples, a pin at the opposite end, the coiled spring,the chains secured to said slides and the master lock to which saidchains are also secured, substantially as described.

4. In a mail bag or pouch the combination with the master lockcomprising the hub having a central bore and intersecting slots, therotatable barrel havingacentral bore and intersecting slots, the springssecured to said barrel and engaging with the slots in the hub, and thecoiled spring secured to said barrel, of the auxiliary locks comprisingthe plate having an opening therein, and with a rib, the slides formedwith an opening and provided with inwardly projecting pins, and thecoiled spring, the chains secured to said slides and barrel and thestaples secured to the flap of the bag or pouch, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature inpresence of two witnesses.

OLIVER M. OHESNEY.

\Vitnesses:

A. F. OHEsNnY, O. E. OHEsNEY.

